U.S. patent number 5,794,379 [Application Number 08/735,017] was granted by the patent office on 1998-08-18 for wooden vase for holding cut flowers.
Invention is credited to Jerry H. McKay.
United States Patent |
5,794,379 |
McKay |
August 18, 1998 |
Wooden vase for holding cut flowers
Abstract
A turned burlwood vase has an epoxy coating on the interior to
allow the vase to hold water for preserving fresh flowers.
Inventors: |
McKay; Jerry H. (Franklin,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
26674842 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/735,017 |
Filed: |
October 22, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
47/41.01;
D11/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
7/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
7/06 (20060101); A47G 7/00 (20060101); A01G
005/00 (); A47G 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;47/41.01,65.5
;D11/143,146 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
3346275 |
|
Jul 1985 |
|
DE |
|
291181 |
|
May 1928 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Carone; Michael J.
Assistant Examiner: Downs; Joanne C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Benefiel; John R.
Claims
I claim:
1. A flower vase comprising:
a turned burlwood vessel having a flat bottom adapted to rest on a
surface and having a cavity machined thereinto defined by an
irregular top edge; a wall of substantially constant thickness,
said wall having an inner surface and, an epoxy coating applied to
the entire inner surface defining said cavity to perform as a water
vessel for holding water to keep cut flowers fresh.
2. The flower vase according to claim 1 wherein said epoxy coating
is a resin comprising diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A.
3. The flower vase according to claim 1 wherein said epoxy coating
is cured with a hardener comprising a modified aliphatic amine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on provisional application U.S. Ser. No.
60/005,849, filed Oct. 23, 1995.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns vases for holding live cut flowers. Such
vases are typically constructed of glass or ceramic material so as
to be able to hold water for maintaining the freshness of cut
flowers for long periods.
Wooden vessels have in the past received special treatment when
used to hold water, such as by applying tar or pitch to seal
barrels or tanks constructed of wooden staves. It has also
heretofore been known to construct separate plastic liners to fit
into a wooden vessel.
Flower vases are preferably of a graceful design, rather than a
simple cylindrical shape. Vases of turned burlwood having a
tapering shape with a narrower top than bottom are particularly
attractive. Such vases feature an irregular top edge formed by the
natural burlwood contour. Being wood, it has not been practical to
allow water to be held in these vases. Heretofore, glass test tubes
have been inserted in straight drilled openings in the vase.
However, the test tubes are fragile, are available only in standard
sizes, and are of limited volume.
Also, a straight-sided hole for the test tube creates thick vase
walls, slowing the drying of the wood.
Plastic liners cannot be fit to tapering shapes or to irregular top
edges. Also, separate liners are costly where many different shapes
must be accommodated, as is the case for the great variety of
shapes of natural wood pieces made into vases.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a natural wood
vase able to hold water to be usable as a fresh flower vase without
requiring a separate liner piece.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-recited object of the present invention is achieved by
applying a thick coating of an epoxy resin to the interior surface
of a turned wooden vase, forming a water holding vessel and
enabling use of the vase to hold fresh cut flowers.
The vase is preferably a turning made from burlwood having a
tapering shape and an irregular top lip edge. The coating closes
any small holes in the vase wall as well as protecting the wood
from direct contact with the water in the vase.
A preferred epoxy resin is diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, sold
under the designation of General Purpose Epoxy Resin TCC-205 by TCC
of Ferndale, Mich., and a hardener of a modified aliphatic amine,
sold as Epoxy Hardener TCC-102 by TCC of Ferndale, Mich.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turned burlwood flower vase
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a lengthwise sectional view of the vase shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a wall section of the
encircled area of the vase shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology
will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular
embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC
112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be
limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention
is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of
the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, a wooden vase 10 is shown. The vase 10
is constructed from a piece of burlwood from a hardwood species
such as maple or walnut, which is turned on a wood lathe to have a
smoothly curving exterior surface 12 producing a richly patterned
appearance from the characteristic graining of a burlwood
pieces
An interior cavity 14 is machined into the burlwood piece for
receiving cut flowers, preferably to form a substantially constant
wall thickness of maximum water capacity. An irregular lip 16
characterizes the open top of vases made in this way. A flat bottom
17 allows the vase 10 to rest securely on a table, shelf, etc.
According to the concept of the present invention, a thick coating
18 is applied to the entire surface 20 of the cavity 14 comprised
of a cured epoxy resin.
The preferred resin is diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, sold under
the designation of General Purpose Epoxy Resin TCC-205 by TCC of
Ferndale, Mich., and a hardener of a modified aliphatic amine, sold
as Epoxy Hardener TCC-102 by TCC of Ferndale, Mich.
This coating may be brush applied. The result is to define a
water-resistant vessel within cavity 14 which is defined by the
turned shape of the cavity itself.
Vases so constructed have been found to allow water to be poured
into the cavity 14 for keeping cut flowers fresh, without affecting
the wood of the vase body, i.e., without causing rotting, swelling,
splitting, etc., which otherwise would be expected to occur.
The irregularities encountered with the natural burlwood pieces and
a great variety of individual turning shapes are accommodated and
the use of a separate liner piece avoided.
* * * * *